Character Identification The character we will focus on is Whip Whitaker in the movie Flight. Whip Whitaker is a male African-American pilot who at the beginning of the film has no religious beliefs or spiritualism. Prior to his career with SouthJet Airlines, he was a Navy pilot. He is divorced with one child; at the beginning of the film he has an affair with his colleague, Katerina, and throughout the film he builds a new romantic relationship with Nicole. While he initially displayed a lack of faith throughout much of the film, the change in Whip towards the end of the film demonstrates faith by facing the truth and allowing the higher power to be in control of subsequent events. Before admitting the truth in court, he mutters "God help me" and continues to show integrity and courage despite knowing that the consequence for telling the truth will be prison time. He demonstrates courage, valor and competence when he takes control of a crashing plane and saves 96 of the 102 people on board the plane. When he discovers that Katerina and 5 other people have been killed, he shows tenacity and resilience and is able to overcome the loss he experiences and the guilt he is tormented by. He is an experienced, courageous, persistent, resilient and, at times, brutally honest airline pilot. Whip's coping mechanisms are denial, dissociation, acting out, moving on, and unraveling. While going through an immensely tumultuous time, he shows resilience and perseverance to overcome the legal consequences of the plane crash he was piloting. Whip also shows kindness and courage when he saves Nicole from her landlord who is trying to beat her, without hesitation. He has one difference... middle of the paper... a previous heroin addict who really gave him the most resources. Nicole provided him with the insight that Whip was responsible for his recovery from addiction, he understood that Whip could change, but it would have to be the individual who determines what his goals are for himself, what changes he needs to make, and the support to understand that he can make such changes, with the help of other resources (Kisthardt, 2006). Works Cited Macdonald, L., Parkes, W., Starkey, S., Rapke, J. & Zemeckis, R. (2012). Flight. United States: Paramount PicturesKisthardt, W. (2006). The opportunities and challenges of strengths-based and person-centered practice: Purpose, principles, and applications in a climate of system integration. In Saleebey, D. (Ed.), The Strengths Perspective in Social Work Practice. Fourth ed. 171-196. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.